Men's Swim/Dive Adds Two More Event Titles, Takes Second at MIAA Championships

The Hope College men's swimming and diving team closed the 2024 MIAA Championships with two more event titles and a runner-up overall finish.

Led by seniors Ben Catton and Bailey Smith, the Flying Dutchmen placed second with a total of 966 points at the four-day, six-team meet hosted by the Holland Aquatic Center. Calvin University repeated as MIAA champion with 1,002 points.

The meet was delayed for approximately 45 minutes near the end due to a medical emergency for a spectator in the stands. Hope and Calvin swam joint 400-yard freestyle relays together for the final event, then circled the pool holding hands to sing a post-meet hymn.

"To say I'm unbelievably proud of this team and what we saw tonight would be an understatement," head coach Jake Taber said. "It extends so far beyond just our whole Hope swimming and diving team here, but to every student-athlete, head coach, parent and spectator here at the Holland Aquatic Center. It was an unbelievable display of unity, hope and prayer. The way everyone came together is just something you don't see in sport very often."

In the 100-yard freestyle, Catton (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian HS) took first by clocking a school-record time of 44.15 points.

Catton became Hope's first champion in the event since 2008 by leading a 1-2 finish. Junior Colin Kalkman (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) was runner-up with a swim of 2:44.70.

Two more Flying Dutchmen scored in the 100 free: 5. freshman Graham Eisenmann (Ozark, Montana / Ozark) at 45.64; and 7. sophomore Henry Booker (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) at 46.19

In the 1,650-yard freestyle, senior Bailey Smith (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) repeated as MIAA champion and won the event for the fourth time in five years.

Smith fronted a 1-2 Hope finish with a time of 16:01.21. Freshman Alex Pierce (Oswego, Illinois / Oswego) was runner-up at 16:10.03.

Two more Flying Dutchmen earned points in the event: 6. Freshman Connor Watkins (Buckeye, Arizona / Horizon) at 16:36.82; and 7. junior Conner Halberg (Novi, Michigan / Northville) at 16:41.98.

In the 200 breaststroke, junior Christian Dunaitis (Commerce Township, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) recorded a runner-up swim of 2:02.13.

Two Hope teammates scored: 3. Senior Reilly LaGrand (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) at 2:06.57; and 7. freshman John McHugh (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton) at 2:08.63.

In the 200 backstroke, McHugh finished fourth at 1:54.1. Junior Dallas Fisher (Highland, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central) was sixth at 1:55.65.

In the 200 butterfly, freshman Nick Suranyi (Novi, Michigan / Novi) placed fourth at 1:51.00.

Two more Flying Dutchmen earned points in the event: 6. Conor East (Farmington Hills, Michigan / North Farmington) at 1:51.95; and 7. sophomore Bishop Carl (Cincinnati, Ohio / Sycamore) at 1:53.09.

Kalamazoo College placed third with 480 points and was followed by Albion College (391), Alma College (295) and The University of Olivet (213).

After the meet, swimmer Justin Kneeshaw (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Northview) was awarded the MIAA Men's Senior Impact Award.

Gallery: (2-23-2024) Men's Swimming and Diving MIAA

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